LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1923, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

'Seventeen men sought work through tlie New Plymouth office of the Labor Department during last week. The total was made up of eight labourers, one driver, two grocers’ assistants, four storemen and two carpenters.

Mr. Clutha Mackenzie has telegraphed to the Mayor of New Plymouth: “Deeply grateful splendid results of your efforts. Please convey warmest thanks of New Zealand Committee and myself to all who are helping so readily and giving so generously.” The respective merits of bitumen and

tar as road dressings were discussed by the Hawera County Council on Saturday. The slippery nature of the bitumen surface was pointed out and th« superior wearing qualities were set against this disadvantage. On the suggestion of the foreman a committee was set up to inquire into the success of bitumen in other counties.

An exceptionally hard frost was experienced in New Plymouth on Saturday night, and it caused considerable damage to tender plants in numerous gardens. In some localities the growths of early plots of potatoes were completely blackened, and flowering and ornamental leafed plants of sub-tropical origin also suffered severely.

■ A special train of 13 carriages took ; a large crowd of school children, par- ) ents, friends and teachers from New ■ Plymouth to Hawera oh Saturday, where J an interesting day was spent at the I winter show and Empire Exhibition. • The train was added to by six coaches l at Lepperton junction containing chi’di ren from Waitara. Visions of a stormy ■ day were conjured up at Stratford and i Eltham, where the rain was falling in ! torrents, but bright sunshine greeted I the visitors at Hawera, making the visit i an ideal one as far as weather condi- | tions were concerned. The return jourI ney was made in the evening, the train ' leaving Hawera shortly before five and arriving at New Plymouth at five minutes ..past seven. The practical nature of the training given to cadets on the deep-sea steam•g was illustrated during the berthing of the Devon at New Plymouth on Saturday. The vessel carries 24 cadets, and, working under the supervision of the second officer and the harbourmasters’ assistant, the whole of the mooring of the boat was carried out by the cadets as ordinary seamen. The way in which the embryo officers handled the large springs aft drew forth favourable comment from the harbormaster (Captain W. Waller), the time occupied in making the springs secure being much less than is usually the case. The discipline aboard and the seaman-like way in which the cadets carried out their other duties were also highly commented upon by Captain Waller.

The question as to whether native lands could be included in special rating i areas for rating purposes was raised at the Hawera County meeting on Saturday by the chairman (Mr. J. B. Murdoch). The clerk said he had been informed by the solicitor that the consent of the native owners must be obtained. Doubt as to the exact position, especially with regard to European leases of native lands, was expressed, and it was decided to go into the question of preparing a remit on the matter to the Counties Association Conference. It was pointed out that in some areas there were so many native owners that it was difficult to get sufficent names to a pettion for a special rate. There is much good feeling in South Taranaki towards the New Plymouth High School, which the people regard as the chief secondary school of the province, and therefore the school they naturally look to to send their boys. As a consequence South Taranaki boys form quite a considerable part of the boarders, and they do as well in sport as in scholarships. Some of the best members of the football team that distinguished themselves on Saturday have their homes in the South, and it was not surprising that when they were playing the whole team did not lack local support from the line. At the same time Taranaki team’s supporters did not overlook good play on the part of the Wanganui team. At the reception to the New Plymouth boys in the morning a tribute to the school was paid by Mr. P. O’Dea, who said the parents were all proud of the boys and the school. Before his boys were old enough to go to school, he had consulted a secondary inspector, who had strongly advised him to send the boys to the New Plymouth High School, which, he was fold was equal to any ■jflhooi in th© Dominion. The records on the playing ■’fiel(l’‘an<i“school room bore out this testimony.

Look up Amesbury’s advertisement on page six for fresh list of bargains. Further discounts have been made on picked over lot© and their sale prices are now at given away point. Mr. T. Lamason advertises on page 8 details of a furniture sale to be held at his mart to-morrow at 1.45 p.m., on account of Mrs. McPherson. An excellent line of men’s Mosgiel allwool socks in fine soft merino wool is on sale at the Melbourne Limited at 2/6 pair. Another attractive bargain is a line of Petone fine worsted socks in greys, heather and blacks at 3/6 pair. These goods are quite superior to imported goods at 4/11 pair.

Particulars of a good herd of Jersey cows, together with other Jersey stock, are advertised for sale at Korito to-mor-row (Tuesday). Horses, implements, etc., will also be sold. The sale is on behalf of the estate of the late Martin Molloy. Buyers of dairy cows should keep this sale in view.